I need to go buy new strings for my Stambaugh today.

I do not want to part with the money for them.

[quote=BenJammin;17811944]I need to go buy new strings for my Stambaugh today.

I do not want to part with the money for them.[/quote]

My current technique is to buy two identical sets of strings. When one set dies, change them out and soak the dead strings in denatured alcohol for 24 hours. After 24 hours, wipe them off, let them dry on a paper towel for about 20 minutes, and then re-coil them and stick them in the string package. They'll sound brand new.

Repeat when the next set dies.

I don't know how many times you can keep cleaning the strings, so you may be SOL after 2 or 3 times, but with 6+ strings, that's easily $50-100 in savings.

That reminds me, I need to order a couple more sets of those Foderas for my Schecter. I also just sold those DiMarzios, so I can afford to get that Nordstrand NJ4SV I've been gassing over.

Well, I don't change my strings very often. These are the ones that came on the bass, two years ago.

But I've also been playing a lot more in the last 2 years than I have most of my musical life, so they've worn down to the point of being totally dead and completely uninspiring.

Hey Ben.
Car rental company went under, trip cancelled, heart broken.

Feel like coming up to Montreal?

[quote=BenJammin;17811966]Well, I don't change my strings very often. These are the ones that came on the bass, two years ago.

But I've also been playing a lot more in the last 2 years than I have most of my musical life, so they've worn down to the point of being totally dead and completely uninspiring.[/quote]

But still, if you can get a whole year out of them with only 5 minutes of actual work, why not?

It's always good to have a backup set anyways. We 6-string bassists have thinner strings that snap easier than our low B's.

[QUOTE=Efrim;17811976]Hey Ben.
Car rental company went under, trip cancelled, heart broken.

Feel like coming up to Montreal?[/QUOTE]

I would if I could, but I can't afford to take the time off work. I'm just starting to recover from all the money I spent when I was jobless. :-/

I'll try and bully Jeremy into taking a trip up in the next couple of months. Maybe March break (well, not that I have one any more, but you know).

[QUOTE=FunkMetalBass;17811978]But still, if you can get a whole year out of them with only 5 minutes of actual work, why not?

It's always good to have a backup set anyways. We 6-string bassists have thinner strings that snap easier than our low B's.[/QUOTE]

My backup set of strings is my second bass. :p

If I'm at a gig and I bust a string, it's 100x faster to change basses than to change strings.

[QUOTE=BenJammin;17811982]I would if I could, but I can't afford to take the time off work. I'm just starting to recover from all the money I spent when I was jobless. :-/

I'll try and bully Jeremy into taking a trip up in the next couple of months. Maybe March break (well, not that I have one any more, but you know).[/QUOTE]

Lame. March break as in Easter? I don't have March break, apart from the four day weekend.

How is life, anyway?

[QUOTE=TimJim;17811350]i want to use him to legalise weed[/QUOTE]

that'd be nice ... but i'm happy with it being decriminalized in my city. only a 50$ fine if I get caught.

[quote=BenJammin;17811985]My backup set of strings is my second bass. :p

If I'm at a gig and I bust a string, it's 100x faster to change basses than to change strings.[/quote]

Well, obviously. I always bring a spare bass, even though I only switch between them half of the time.

I really need to find a way to speed up setup time for my rig. I'm debating whether or not I want to eliminate my cabs on stage and just use the monitors. All I'd need is my 4-space rack.

I know I hate watching a band take half an hour to set up like it's their first time doing it. You want that to be done as quickly as possible.

How quickly do you need to set up? I've got a single cab, 4-space rack, and pedalboard. I'm always the first one set up.

How much does having a cab affect your setup time? To move it to where you want it, then plug a speaker lead in? Man up. Bass through the foldback always sounds poo.

And I never take a spare bass.

[quote=Spaceman Spiff;17812133]I know I hate watching a band take half an hour to set up like it's their first time doing it. You want that to be done as quickly as possible.[/quote]

Same. And the same thing goes for unloading (drummers, you do NOT need to take off your cymbals on stage...take it outside and do it...sheesh!) It also leaves less time for sound checks and stuff, which is something I really try to take time with and do right.


[quote=:amaze:;17812140]How quickly do you need to set up? I've got a single cab, 4-space rack, and pedalboard. I'm always the first one set up.[/quote]

It's horrific and complex (will be much faster once I get the wireless systems set up): 2 four-space racks (one for preamp stuffs, one for crossover and power amp), 2 cabinets (4x10, 1x18), pedal board, and two basses.

I don't usually have any issues because the soundguys almost always check drums and both guitars first, so that gives me some time to set up, but it's still annoying.

I need to get started on building that BFM cab. With that and an 8-space rolling rack, I should be able to wheel everything in pretty easily and it saves me the time of setting up two more individual items. With the wireless systems in the mix, I will then only have to plug in one or two cables and I'll be all set.

[quote=fatbandit;17812179]How much does having a cab affect your setup time? To move it to where you want it, then plug a speaker lead in? Man up. Bass through the foldback always sounds poo.

And I never take a spare bass.[/quote]

Considering I have to run in with one, then run out and grab another, it's a minute or extra that I could be using to change my EQ a bit for the house and focus on sound checks.

Setting up two racks requires 3 or 4 cables to be placed, so that's another 30-second time waster. Opening up 2 cases and tearing down 2 cases = another 30 seconds gone. If you want to be set up in under 10 minutes to maximize the sound check and set time, then those minutes add up and detract from it.

I always take a spare bass. Actually, I almost always use both basses on stage to switch back and forth between tunings. With the way my tuner is run in my rack, I can't mute the signal, so tuning silently is not an option, and it's convenient to just grab another bass and keep going.

You obviously soundcheck differently to me.

[quote=fatbandit;17812288]You obviously soundcheck differently to me.[/quote]

If possible, we like to soundcheck as a band with our stage volume and amp angles before we ever check the FOH. 1) Stage sound shouldn't bleed out and f**k with the FOH mix. 2) The better the stage balance, the less we'll have to rely on monitor mixes and the tighter we play.

I get all my equipment into the building and set up long before we soundcheck. Then it doesn't take me a few minutes to go back outside to get my cab or to plug things in when I could be soundchecking? :s

Then I just turn my amp on and rock. That's about the long and short of it.

Many venues we play only have vocal PA. Which means I turn my Matamp to face melting volume. If we have monitors, great, I know I only want my vocals, bass drum and snare in it. My amp should be loud behind me, as long as I can hear the hi-hats.

Things work themselves out, and it's never me who is asked to turn down. We know what we're doing with soundchecks, and we aren't primadonnas about onstage mixes or anything, so our soundchecks are normally zero fuss, with minimal time spent. The word I'd like to use is professional, but I think it's more that we're jaded by so many gigs where sound is mediocre at best, so to expect awesome sound in a small venue with only a 10/15 minute soundcheck is just a bad idea.

[quote=fatbandit;17812356]I get all my equipment into the building and set up before we soundcheck. Then it doesn't take me a few minutes to go back outside to get my cab? :s

Then I just turn my amp on and rock. That's about the long and short of it.[/quote]

Oh, it sounds like venues are set up slightly different here.

Here, you have to pull around back and wait for the band to get off the stage, then you unload and go directly onto the stage, so you have to unload and set up simultaneously.

In other news, how's that pedal treating you?

That pedal hasn't arrived yet. It's been sent, but the track'n'trace says it hasn't left America yet. It's been in that state for like a week :(

[quote=fatbandit;17812366]That pedal hasn't arrived yet. It's been sent, but the track'n'trace says it hasn't left America yet. It's been in that state for like a week :([/quote]

I've heard that the tracking is extremely inaccurate for foreign-shipped items. It very well could be en route right now and the tracking updates are just a week behind.

[QUOTE=FunkMetalBass;17812185]
It's horrific and complex (will be much faster once I get the wireless systems set up): 2 four-space racks (one for preamp stuffs, one for crossover and power amp), 2 cabinets (4x10, 1x18), pedal board, and two basses.

I don't usually have any issues because the soundguys almost always check drums and both guitars first, so that gives me some time to set up, but it's still annoying.

I need to get started on building that BFM cab. With that and an 8-space rolling rack, I should be able to wheel everything in pretty easily and it saves me the time of setting up two more individual items. With the wireless systems in the mix, I will then only have to plug in one or two cables and I'll be all set.[/QUOTE]

sounds like you can/should streamline your stuff if you are running short on time setting up.

I played an upright bass at a music store today. I want it so badly. It just felt right.

$2400, though. Sigh.

[quote=BenJammin;17812389]I played an upright bass at a music store today. I want it so badly. It just felt right.

$2400, though. Sigh.[/quote]

Look for a used NS electric. Great basses, half the price.

I'm trying to keep on top of the shipping because if it reaches England without me knowing, I have to wait for a letter to come through telling me I need to pay the import duty, and then wait another couple of days to receive it. But if I know the day it comes in to England, I can pre-empt the letter and just pay for it as soon as it comes in. Saves me a couple of days.

And yeah, I'd simplify your rig. Try and get one good full range cab, and shrink your rack down. I went through a massive downsizing/simplifying process recently and I'm much happier for it.

[QUOTE=FunkMetalBass;17812398]Look for a used NS electric. Great basses, half the price.[/QUOTE]

I really doubt it'd sound anywhere near as good.

[quote=fatbandit;17812400]I'm trying to keep on top of the shipping because if it reaches England without me knowing, I have to wait for a letter to come through telling me I need to pay the import duty, and then wait another couple of days to receive it. But if I know the day it comes in to England, I can pre-empt the letter and just pay for it as soon as it comes in. Saves me a couple of days.

And yeah, I'd simplify your rig. Try and get one good full range cab, and shrink your rack down. I went through a massive downsizing/simplifying process recently and I'm much happier for it.[/quote]

That's why I need to build the BFM cab for my full-range needs. It would eliminate the need for my crossover and stereo power amp and I could look for a 1U mono power amp to throw in there instead.

[quote=:amaze:;17812378]sounds like you can/should streamline your stuff if you are running short on time setting up.[/quote]

Yep. I'm working on it. Haven't had the money or time to do much about it, though.

[quote=BenJammin;17812403]I really doubt it'd sound anywhere near as good.[/quote]

You'd be surprised - NS basses actually sound really good if you can EQ them right. Played one through a Glockenlang amp and it really impressed me.

[QUOTE=FunkMetalBass;17812423]You'd be surprised - NS basses actually sound really good if you can EQ them right. Played one through a Glockenlang amp and it really impressed me.[/QUOTE]

Meh. I'd still rather have a real one. It's partly mental, but having something without the full body to it just wouldn't feel right.